Brass Monkey 2010 by gravel

[XF650]

Jules & Paul returned with the news that Craig & Ian were no where in sight, nor could they hear them. Decision time - does this mean that it gets easier & they are on their way to the Danseys Pub? Or are they stuck further on & need our help? Or should we turn back?
The vote (rightly or wrongly) was to stick together & follow their wheel marks.
Initially it wasn't too bad, especially when we could ride along the water table:

[_Shrek_]

looking at the pic's i'd say they should have had better tyres on, glad you guys got through S & catching up

[XF650]

And then it turned to shit.
For long stretches we had to punch through the snow, constantantly spinning the back wheel to get traction. There was no way we could do that going back up hill, so no turning back - we were committed. But exhausting as it was, we pushed on. After all, the others were still in front of us.
And then it got dark, buggar. Jules head light didn't work so he used my camp light, which worked surprisingly well and we pushed on. There was now very little water table to ride in, or sometimes it would turn to ice before you could steer out of it, and then you would have that sickening feeling of the back wheel trying to pass the front wheel, and praying that you would land on the snow , not the ice. Ironically a fall was a relief from the exertion of trying to keep the bike upright and I remember being flat on my back, not being concerned about the DT on my leg but instead being amazed at the clear night sky and all the stars.
The DT was under constant load, pushing through snow that was deeper than the motor in places. In fact in one place i was able to pick up a dropped bungey cord without hardly leaning down.
Because the DT has no fan, it's engine was getting bloody hot. Ironical that the water temp warning light was constantly on in such a cold environmemt. Eventually I was enveloped in a cloud of steam. F**k.
Topped up the radiator from my water bottle, hoping it was just the cap that let go. Got another 200m and boof, it threw out the water again. F**k. This could be serious.

[oldrider]

As you can see the snow was getting deeper but Craig & Ian had still gone on through that snow drift in the pic (notice theirs are the only wheel marks). Jules & Paul headed off on foot to check they were all right while I stayed to help push the "pink sheet" riders (you know who you are) back up the hill a bit, & to photograph their predicament (boy was that going to come back & bite me!!).

Well Struan, did you guy's go home through the Black Forest road after all that, or did you change your mind's?

I thought I heard a group of bikes heading up there not that long after you rang! Was it you?

[XF650]

As you can guess, I was too knackered to take any pics.
Staying put wasn't really an option. We had plenty of fuel to light a fire but nothing to burn (apart from the bikes). We had some food, one small tarp but no tent. No cell phone coverage either. We just stuck together & continued to follow the others wheel marks. Easy to see where they had fallen too - there would be a depression in the snow with foot prints around it.
So I just kept topping up the DT radiator, go 200m and do it again. And yes, I checked all the hoses that I could see but the water seemed to be coming out of the head area. Gathering water was often a mission, where I would have to tramp through the snow a fair distance to find a stream, another irony.
Sometimes you could find a balance & get some momentum going accross the crust but hit another wheel mark or snow drift and you would sink again. It was bloody hard work and really showed up our (lack of) fitness.

[XF650]

Well Struan, did you guy's go home through the Black Forest road after all that, or did you change your mind's?

I thought I heard a group of bikes heading up there not that long after you rang! Was it you?

No John, wasn't us - low cloud, rain & snow forcasted to low levels. I think we had pushed our luck enough this weekend...

[XF650]

looking at the pic's i'd say they should have had better tyres on, glad you guys got through S & catching up

Yeah, if we had known that we were going snow riding, nothing less than new sharp knobblies would have been fitted

[_Shrek_]

Yeah, if we had known that we were going snow riding, nothing less than new sharp knobblies would have been fitted

an adventure for shore you will remember this trip for some time to come

& it's making a good read lol

[XF650]

Long story short, we eventually got to the Dansey's Pub, around 9:30 I think. We were all drenched in sweat, yet riding in sub zero temp's - not a good combination.
Pics of the bikes shows the depth of snow on the wheels, outside the pub. Apart from the DT over heating & the occasional XR hot starting issues, they did us proud & got us out.
A round of Dram was in order & a pic by the fire to celebrate. I had just finished telling the publican NOT to let bikes through if they ask, & some dude rings asking excatly that, so he hands the phone to me & it's Shrek on the line!!!
We then rode through to Naseby for tea at the pub & I phoned Craig to let him know we were out. And here's the twist - he had assumed we had turned back with the others so in reality no one knew we were in there!!
I filled the DT with water again & then rode a ripper frost to Ranfurly.
That's day one of our Brass Adv ride - let the flaming commence.....
Note though it wasn't us that had to be rescued - they might have been road bikes the next day??

[XF650]

Was it snowing lots during the day? If not why didn't they turn around and go back out whence they came. Sounds a but strange to me. Also a little DT couldn't even get through shoulder deep snow. Definitely more to this story me thinks. Keen to hear XF.

Weather was good while we were in there. Snow had been there a while, hence assumption road gangs would have been working on it.

[helenoftroy]

Struan you will get no flaming from any of us that have ridden with you!

Know what a prepared,awesome riding mate you are
You guys had made contact with locals along the way & checked ahead...and like you say,you made it & didnt have to be rescued

That was a day to remember tho!

[cooneyr]

Got it now. Trying to go downhill into snow that is getting deeper and not knowing how bad it was going to get but not being able to get back up.

The pics actually look like fun but need good tyres!!!

[marks]

Woohoo - what a ride

How did the bike go on the ride home - did the water use continue?

[thepom]

Truly an adventure...is,nt that what its all about? Paul and Jules look as dodgy as ever!

[XF650]

Next morning Craig shot off to ride Onslow Rd & Dunstan Trail while I worked on the DT. Note pic of snow stuck in front wheel, still there at 11am after riding from Naseby the night before - that was an effing cold ride.
Removing the tank revealed the problem - a plastic (!!) pipe fitting had split, letting the coolant run off the head near the exhaust port. This was impossible to see the night before, hence my assumption it was blown head gasket.
Local garage did a great job of bogging the split, filled her up with water again and did a couple of hard test rides - no leaks or bubbles. Shit hot, I'm back in the hunt. Put in antifreeze & rode to the Rally.